Ethical:

• Ethical implications and social sensitivity:


  Some areas of research have greater social sensitivity than others

  • IE research on LTM in a student population is unlikely to have consequences for individual pp
  • In contrast, a study on depression may have consequences in terms of individual pp, the wider social group they represent and for social policy
  • IE an individual participant may reveal personal information that is later accessed by a prospective employer
  • In terms of social policy the findings of a study on depression could inform preferred treatment options recommended by the NHS
• Implications for the research process

  All psychological research has potential consequences but this applies to socially sensitive research in particular

  • Stages of planning and conducting studies are important when thinking of social sensitivity, as well as later in handling the findings
• Implications for the research process

  Research question

  • Stanley et al warn that the way in which research questions are phrased and investigated may influence the way in which findings are interpreted
  • For example, Coyle et al note how research into relationships has been guilty of a form of 'heterosexual bias' within which homosexual relationships were compared and judged against heterosexual norms.
• Implications for the research process

  Dealing with participants:

  • Issues such as informed consent, confidentiality and psychological harm may be especially important in socially sensitive research.
  • For example, in a study on domestic abuse pp may worry that an ex-partner will find out about the study and also it is likely to be extremely stressful for pp to describe their experiences
  • Such pp may provide informed consent at the start of the study but not fully understand the effect of the research
• Implications for the research process

  The way findings are used

  • Should consider in advance how research findings may be used
  • It may impact on what data they actually collect
  • Important as findings from research may be seen as giving scientific credence to existing prejudices ie studies examining the ethnic basis of intelligence
• the way findings are used:

  Sensitive information is what the media tend to be interested in and will publicise

  • IE Owen's research on people in a minimally conscious state received enormous media attention at the time as it appeared he had made contact with patients who were thought to be 'unreachable'